bosses that no more than techs

Brad Clayton · November 8, 2007

I had an ex marine/no it all/ex mechanic, running our shop for a while. Dealing with this guy took some patience to say the least. Any quote over $100 bucks came under scrutiny. He had absolutely no faith or trust in us. I remember a Ranger that had no up or left on both power mirrors. I changed the switch quickly with a know good one before heading to the parts counter and still had same problem. Looked a little further and oddly enough it had two bad mirrors. So I'm at the parts counter and he over hears the quote for $400 worth of mirrors and accuses me of guessing and throwing parts at it to get it out of my bay and onto another ticket (we've never seen that before right?). Then he wants me to find another Ranger and take the mirrors off and show him they work on the bum truck.

Keep in mind this is 1992, the chances of finding a Ranger with power anything are rare to none. I ended up having to take a mirror off a limited Explorer with heated mirrors no less and then jumping out connectors with jumper wires to the truck to show him it would work.

After he saw the work I went through and the knowledge displayed using an evtm to make him a believer, he lightened up a bit.

ktmlew · November 9, 2007

To fill the others in, this post is what brought up the subject:

http://www.forddoctorsdts.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=8743&page=1#Post8743

The guy/boss IS an ASE Master Tech, was working as a tech until he built this shop, but has never worked in a dealership. Seemed to have a bit of an attitude about dealership techs too...figured anyone working flat-rate was a crook by association.

Appeared to be a good enough tech but just couldn't let me or anyone else, do their own diagnosis. I know the shop belongs to him and he has the ultimate responsibility for how a job turns out, but I am big believer in giving someone enough rope to hang themselves. If you get burned a time or two then you watch the offender like a hawk or kick em' to the curb...

He is what southerners call a "damn yankee"...one that comes down here and STAYS...just in case you "Yankees" don't know it, you have a bit of a "tude" about you that doesn't fly very well down south...he was from New York.

He, on several occasions, mentioned how stupid the customers were and how much he hated the area IE; too slow, inept help at the parts stores, the pizza wasn't "New York Style, etc...

Just so you know...I was born in Ohio & raised from 9 years old in WV. Moved to NC in Jan 96...I'm now a "southerner"...

Brad Clayton · November 9, 2007

Oh how I miss sweet tea and fried food at restaurants... but thats neither here nor there.

Jim Warman · November 10, 2007

Well.... let's see.... I got my start at an auto wreckers.... circa 1967.... I wasn't real good at it since enthusiasm isn't a real good replacement for experience.... One of the counter guys set me up with an employer looking for an apprentice and the rest, as they say, is history....

Using simple math, we can see that this was 40 years ago....

In the past few months, I was told (by someone with about 3.5 years on the service desk) that "I don't know anything about this business".....

Now.... I spent over ten years as a proprietor.... a shop owner... a businessman.... I can walk down the street and not one of my customers will shun me.... I'm a lousy businessman - but I do know a thing or two about this trade.....

Try and explain, to the service desk neophyte, that the scan tool is not a magic wand.... I do a lot of "driveway diagnosis".... I either suggest that we have certain parts on hand for when the unit comes in to the shop - or I tell them that we need more diag time....

One truly sad part is that between the driveway diag and the service visit, the part(s) I felt we should have on hand to speed the repair process (should we happen need those parts) suddenly turn into a "proper diag" and the tech is going to blindly bolt those parts on...

Maybe she was right.... I can't figure out how to keep from being trapped by our own system....

Tony302600 · November 12, 2007

Well.... let's see.... I got my start at an auto wreckers.... circa 1967.... I wasn't real good at it since enthusiasm isn't a real good replacement for experience.... One of the counter guys set me up with an employer looking for an apprentice and the rest, as they say, is history....

"Circa" that shows me how old you really are. LoL

LARRY BRUDZYNSKI · November 13, 2007

Wait a minute we are closing in on "08"...

WOULDN'T THAT MAKE IT 41 YEARS /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/poke.gif

Jim Warman · November 13, 2007

Larry, even though I'm not quite "there", I still get old farts discount at the liquor store on Tuesday... Once you leave 30something in the rear view mirror of life and start on that slippery slope we call the 40s... that is something of a "neener".

LARRY BRUDZYNSKI · November 13, 2007

Just kidding Jim. Anybody that can stay in this business as long as you have and not gone totally insane, has got my respect and appreciation. I don't think I will be able to do that, but I guess my almost 28 years is some sort of accomplishment. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/notworthy.gif

Keith Browning · November 13, 2007

Who said Jim is SANE? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/icon_crazy.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Wanna hear something crazy? I have been employed by the same dealer since high School for 22 years! Now THAT is insane! (so I am told)

LARRY BRUDZYNSKI · November 13, 2007

Hmmm... 22 Years at the same shop...

They must be getting ready to hoist the sign up...

"KEITH BROWNING FORD"

Got any job openings???

Jim Warman · November 13, 2007

No offence taken, Larry.... but the liquor store discount is still a "neener" when you work in this trade /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

Until this job (and not counting the number of years I spent proving to the world that I was a better tech than a businessman), The longest I spent in one store would be a little over 3 years before my eye started roving, again - finding that the grass on the other side of the fence is usually the same scruff on that's this side....

22 years.... TWENTY TWO YEARS!!!!! There's marriages that don't last that long. Makes one wonder if he should congratulate Kieth or cuff him upside the ear.....

That kind of time in one place would give a tech respect and recognistion, I'm sure... Congrats, Kieth...

Hmm, maybe we should start planning a 25th anniversary bash....

snw blue by you · November 13, 2007

Everyone knows more than me, I'm f'n clueless. Posted Image

ktmlew · November 14, 2007

Everyone knows more than me, I'm f'n clueless.

The shop I started doing diesel at had a guy that had been working in the same bay for more than 30 years. He played that "I know nuthin" deal too...but don't you believe it! He was dumb like a fox...figured-out that the less diag you had to do the more "work' you got out the door. With "work" being flushes & brake jobs...

Mekanik · November 16, 2007

Everyone knows more than me, I'm f'n clueless.

Ha, the 65 year old guy I work next to always says, "I'll tell you everything I know about cars. You got a minute? ".

Mekanik · November 16, 2007

We've got another case of "bosses that know more than techs". I had a truch with a rear end noise back in August and I said it was the rear end(2008 F450 with a dana s110). My boss could not believe that this truck needed a rear end. He is also the type that likes to second guess us and make us prove to him what is wrong. So anyway he gets the shop foreman involved who notices a noise in the muffler when he kicks the tailpipe. The foreman also says in isn't the rear end, but he really dosen't work on trucks, but he really enjoys making me look like an idiot. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/icon_crazy.gif Now the noise that the truck had was definately not an exaust rattle, but I play along. I order a muffler and then I had to endure "The Look" /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/scratchhead.gif and the "I knew that truck didn't need a rear end. Do you need me to call my sister to fix that truck for you? " 1 Week later I put the muffler in the truck and it still makes the same noise. After being forced to run around in circles I order a diff assy. I still have to listen to, "There is no way that is a gear noise. That isn't going to fix the truck. " This afternoon, I the truck is finally back and I put the diff in. My boss had to leave early today. Tomorrow just happens to be my last day at work for this dealer and the truck is fixed. It was gear noise, just like I said. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbup.gif

snw blue by you · November 16, 2007

We've got another case of "bosses that know more than techs". I had a truch with a rear end noise back in August and I said it was the rear end(2008 F450 with a dana s110). My boss could not believe that this truck needed a rear end. He is also the type that likes to second guess us and make us prove to him what is wrong. So anyway he gets the shop foreman involved who notices a noise in the muffler when he kicks the tailpipe. The foreman also says in isn't the rear end, but he really dosen't work on trucks, but he really enjoys making me look like an idiot. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/icon_crazy.gif Now the noise that the truck had was definately not an exaust rattle, but I play along. I order a muffler and then I had to endure "The Look" /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/scratchhead.gif and the "I knew that truck didn't need a rear end. Do you need me to call my sister to fix that truck for you? " 1 Week later I put the muffler in the truck and it still makes the same noise. After being forced to run around in circles I order a diff assy. I still have to listen to, "There is no way that is a gear noise. That isn't going to fix the truck. " This afternoon, I the truck is finally back and I put the diff in. My boss had to leave early today. Tomorrow just happens to be my last day at work for this dealer and the truck is fixed. It was gear noise, just like I said. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbup.gif

Fortunatly I have a service manager that has a great deal of faith in me and my abilities (Not that I haven't screwed the pooch a couple of times, but I do get this nonsense fixed)and the shop foreman and I have respect for each other and our respective talents.

He is a Senior Master, and I a Master, and thats gotta mean something.